'Charismatic Anwar my idol'

Mohd Saiful Bukari Azlan described Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim as a charismatic politician whom he had idolised when growing up.

The 25-year-old former aide to Anwar revealed this at the Kuala Lumpur High Court during the examination-in-chief by lead prosecutor Solicitor-General II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden.

Mohd Saiful has accused the 63-year-old politician of sodomising him in a condominium in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, in 2008. The trial entered its third day today.

As to how he landed the job as an aide, Mohd Saiful testified that his friend Rahimi Osman had contacted him to have a chat in March 2008, prior to the general election.

"While we were talking Rahimi asked whether I was working or engaged with any other activities.

"I said I was not working at that time... And he (Rahimi) asked if I was keen in working for Anwar as they were lacking in manpower," he said.

"I couldn't decide... I felt 50/50 about it. At that time Rahimi asked me to follow him to the meeting room and Anwar walked in. He started to brief us about the election ceramah and the programmes,” he added.

Mohd Saiful said Rahimi later introduced him to Anwar and that was the first meeting between the duo.

"I was shocked because I had not decided (on whether to take up the offer), but after that meeting Anwar told me that he appreciates my help," he added.

Why did he quit?

Mohd Saiful also told the court that he had tendered his resignation on March 28, 2008.

Quizzed on why he decided to quit, the former aide said that it was because he lacked discipline and was not qualified for the job.

He also feared what the other staff would think because of the special treatment accorded to him, such as being given a private office.

Following this, Mohd Saiful said that he was told to meet Anwar at his office in Petaling Jaya.

"I was afraid to meet him... he asked why I wanted to quit and I cited the same reasons as I did in the email that I lacked discipline and I was not qualified.

"Second, I was given more privileges than the other staff as I was offered a private office at the new (party) headquarters in Tropicana," he said.

"But the real reason for my resignation was because I was not willing to be used in that way again," he added, referring to the alleged sodomy.

At this juncture, Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh objected to the word ' lagi ' (again).

Mohd Saiful claimed that Anwar was "disappointed and sad" with his decision to quit and made a counter-offer to sponsor his education and pay his salary in full for that period.

Asked whether he took up the offer, he replied: "At that time I was scared to reject, so I accepted his offer. Several hours later he emailed saying, 'thank you for accepting the offer'."

Utusan's photo caption

Meanwhile, Karpal also expressed disagreement with a caption that appeared in Utusan Malaysia under a photograph that showed Mohd Saiful pointing to a bed in the condominium where the alleged sodomy took place.

The caption among others read, "Mohd Saiful points at the bed in the master bedroom where he was allegedly sodomised by Anwar Ibrahim."

However, the judge said there was nothing wrong with the caption, because the details were mentioned in open court and the media could report it.

Commenting on the Utusan caption after the proceedings, Anwar said his lawyers will pursue the matter.

"We cant even get a decent judgment over a basic issue like that. When there is a blatant lie like that, (there is) no correction... nothing was mentioned about the bed (in Saiful's testimony).

"Clearly there is a game here and we are not going to take it lying down," he stressed.

In a related development, some 20 people staged a demonstration at the Federal Territory Mosque in Kuala Lumpur after Friday prayers to protest the court case against Anwar.

Led by PKR leaders such as strategic director Tian Chua, Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul and Rawang state assemblyperson Gan Pei Nei, the crowd chanted 'Reformasi' and 'Hidup Rakyat'.

The demonstration lasted for about 10 minutes.